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Nintendo eyeing 'more compact' Wii 2 motion control - Miyamoto

Mario creator says console successor likely to have same functionality as current best-selling hardware, only slimmer and cheaper.

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata may have said in August that a successor to the best-selling Wii won't be coming "any time in the near future," but the console's follow-up is clearly strong on the industry's mind. Earlier this year, prominent Wedbush Morgan Securities analyst Michael Pachter projected a Wii HD to debut sometime next year, while Square Enix head Yoichi Wada went on record last month to say a new console from Nintendo may come as early as 2011.

Nintendo's maestro at work.

Nintendo's maestro at work.

With those predictions in mind, Nintendo creative lead Shigeru Miyamoto has offered a small teaser on what gamers might be able to expect from a new console. Speaking to Popular Mechanics, the creator of the Wii, as well as such gaming icons as Mario, Donkey Kong, and Link, said that he thinks the next device will have motion control similar to the Wii's. He further noted that this control method would probably be more economical and formfitting than the currently available device.

"With both the Wii Remote itself and Wii MotionPlus, what we've been able to do is introduce an interface that is both, I think, appealing and at the right price for a broad audience," he said. "And while we don't have any concrete plans for what we'll be doing with hardware in the future, what I can say is that, my guess is that because we found this interface to be so interesting, I think it would be likely that we would try to make that same functionality perhaps more compact and perhaps even more cost-efficient."

Along with predicting Nintendo's new console last month, Wada said that he expects motion control in games to become standard. Indeed, Nintendo will soon be facing increased competition on the motion-control front, as Sony prepares to launch its EyeToy-compatible controller for the PlayStation 3 during spring 2010. Microsoft's camera-based motion-sensing device for the Xbox 360, codenamed Project Natal, is also expected next year.

214 Comments

  • angelGP32

    Posted Oct 27, 2009 5:40 am GMT

    @sgfreak37: I never considered the N64 or Gamecube as a failure, nor have I ever said that. I liked both systems very much and Gamecube still remains my favorite of the previous gen systems. But the fact is neither of those systems had the shovelware the Wii has, neither of those systems catered to one specific group of people, they were both systems for core gamers. So for the first time Nintendo abandons it's core for a niche group, which is why I think the next system will show if it was all worth it. When all the core gamers with their PS3 and 360's don't buy the next Wii, and all the casual gamers don't upgrade because there's no need with the abundance of Wii software, that's going to tell the tale. Keep this post in mind 3 years down the road.

  • mcjakeqcool

    Posted Oct 26, 2009 8:52 am GMT

    @sgfreak37
    Wii is the same power as GC, and even it if it not, I don't notice it in the graphics, I can notice 360 has better graphics then Xbox 1, or ps3 better then 2, but no, GC and Wii the same.

  • sgfreak37

    Posted Oct 26, 2009 7:01 am GMT

    @mcjakeqcool. It may be true that the Wii isn't as powerful then the PS3/360. But we weren't comparing those three. We were talking about a console that is more compact being less powerful. But by that logic then the argument still stands. Also the GCN is more compact then the original PS2 and it was more powerful. Anyone who thinks otherwise needs to look up their specs. Also the Wii Is more powerful then the GCN yet more compact still, and same with the GCN-PS2, if anyone thinks otherwise look up some specs. Just because a Console/System/PC what have you, is more compact has nothing to do with Processing power. It is all about what is in it, and you can have allot of power in a small size. And you do know, bigger things get the cheaper they are to make. That’s why you get more compact consoles later on, the smaller parts become cheaper. So yes it would be possible to make a more compact Wii. Yet I don’t see it happening. A Wii HD maybe. But what I think everyone is losing sight of is, they are not talking about a smaller Console. Or even a smaller controller. They are talking about making the ”functionality” of the motion controls more compact, and more “cost-efficient” for the next generation controller. Which is very possible as technology gets better.

  • snarple_basic

    Posted Oct 25, 2009 3:28 pm GMT

    Yep I knew they would eventually start concidering that. I would like a Wii Remote that has Wii Motion Plus and is also the same size as the Wii Remote. It would be nice if they can get it to fit into the steering wheel. I think the Motion Plus tech can really make racing games even more accurate then they already are with the Wii remote.

  • mcjakeqcool

    Posted Oct 25, 2009 12:33 pm GMT

    @sgfreak37
    Wii is undoubtedly less powerful then ps3 and 360, no doubt because of it's size, as for the ps3 slim, Sony are Magic, you know, never belive it's not so...

  • Shinkada

    Posted Oct 25, 2009 4:10 am GMT

    tl;dr: Nintendo makes efforts to further their descent from console to toy.

  • boobush

    Posted Oct 23, 2009 6:12 pm GMT

    What for?! The controller's fine its current size. I don't have big hands, and the controller fits thightly in my hand. So a good portion of people might have trouble with it. I love Nintendo, but I hope they don't go nuts over that family oriented crap, now making children's controllers.

  • sgfreak37

    Posted Oct 23, 2009 5:17 pm GMT

    @angelgp32 - "the next Nintendo system is going to fail"
    You know I heard all that crap the last 2 generation. When the N64 didn't do as well as Nintendo hoped every Sony Fanboy was talking about how that GCN will fail, and it was a success. Again, it wasn't as successful as Nintendo hoped, but they still did better them allot of fanboys thought. Then they were all about how the Wii is going to fail, and so far it has been doing really good. Even if the Wii Falls to third in sales for the rest of this Gen, it will still be considered a in all business terms a success. But I personally take all this "Nintendo is Going to Fail" non-sense with a grain of salt. So if Nintendo does end up the going the way of Atari, and Sega by the end of the next gen then I might consider you are psychic.

    @mcjakeqcool - "More compact = Weaker processing power. I wonder how many bits the Wii 2 will be... 32? 16?! Thank god I shelved my Wii." So by your logic, the Slimline PS3 has weaker processing power then the original PS3. Or since the 360 is smaller and weighs less then the original xbox (not by much but still) then the original Xbox is more powerful.. Or am I just confused.

  • mcjakeqcool

    Posted Oct 23, 2009 7:49 am GMT

    More compact = Weaker processing power. I wonder how many bits the Wii 2 will be... 32? 16?! Thank god I shelved my Wii.

  • angelGP32

    Posted Oct 23, 2009 5:55 am GMT

    @ jayd02: "they won't just remake the wii and just add HD that is what microsoft and sony did" They did????? So the original XBOX and PS2 are nothing more than the PS3 and 360 but without HD graphics?? that comment alone should make anything else you say irrelevant because it's clear you either have never owned any of these systems or are oblivious to what they can do compared to their predecessors. I will wait and see but so far my predictions have been spot on, and I predict again, the next Nintendo system is going to fail. It will be to far behind, and all the casual gamers they cater to now, will not see the need to upgrade and thus the sales will not be there. They've alienated the core gamer, and the casual won't upgrade...thus the next generation is where Nintendo fails, unless they start NOW, fixing this.

  • migeru1305

    Posted Oct 23, 2009 2:57 am GMT

    @Flint247
    You can do that if your a slacker or just some rich guy. lol

  • Flint247

    Posted Oct 22, 2009 8:05 pm GMT

    Buy a Wii and a 360/PS3 and you shouldn't have a reason to complain.

  • itsTolkien_time

    Posted Oct 22, 2009 3:04 pm GMT

    I still don't see natal as a competitor. Sorry, but I just don't get it.

  • jeffokiecorry2

    Posted Oct 22, 2009 3:00 pm GMT

    My concern with a new console: I want to be able to transfer my virtual console titles/wiiware. I also would like hd. Besides this I'm kind of "meh" about the idea.

  • RaikirBLaZE

    Posted Oct 22, 2009 1:40 pm GMT

    A more economical Wii? yea just what we need. If the Wii isn't already weak in comparison to the ps3 and 360 by now, i can't imagine the next gen. If they seriously don't step up in hardware capabilities next time around, they shouldn't expect the same kind of sales as the first Wii.

  • jayd02

    Posted Oct 22, 2009 1:21 pm GMT

    twilight princess was made for both consoles if you played both you would know that. If you buy an SD cable for your wii you will see the difference ( kinda minor but it is there) also the games are mirrored to one another and a couple of other differences. I got wii version my friend got the gamecube version and we compared.

  • cjasko94

    Posted Oct 22, 2009 1:12 pm GMT

    ...............What has Nintendo become? Mario in space? No TRUE Next gen Zelda game yet? (Twilight princess was a GameCube game ported to the WII just with motion controls...not saying it's bad.)

  • jayd02

    Posted Oct 22, 2009 1:07 pm GMT

    also when Wii HD comes out it just might take over the industry for awhile. Because nintendo is smart, they won't just remake the wii and just add HD that is what microsoft and sony did, trust me they will add a lot of what people have been asking for and fix what we have been complaining about. People may not know this but nintendo has been working on this the day that the Wii came out. That is what they do for all of their systems. They release one and start on the next. If you look it up it is noted that people of nintendo have said it. When they released the gamecube, they were already working on the Wii.

  • jayd02

    Posted Oct 22, 2009 1:04 pm GMT

    @ JustPlainLucas Nintendo doesn't think they can get away with a graphically weaker system Nintendo can get away with a weaker system yeah the sales have gone down for the wii but the wii has been on top for how many years now???? and sony had to lower the price in order to beat Nintendo to me the only reason why wii isn't winning any more is because they aren't getting quality games like it should, or really they aren't making smart decisions like they should. To me more online gaming, and better online gaming and more mature games

  • Nuk1euz

    Posted Oct 22, 2009 11:12 am GMT

    I never expected the Japanese to go this low, they always offered quality stuff, and even their animes are very rich in story and originality. Nintendo followed this route also, but the past year or 2 have been very disappointing. If they can bring out a Wii Slim for 100 dollars, i would like that, otherwise i think Nintendo should spend their profits on something much better, like maybe a Wii with an aluminum case to reduce heating, or more energy efficient, or HD capabilities, or vastly improving their online aspect of the console, maybe an instant messaging thing.

    They could do a lot of things to improve, their thick heads are above the clouds right now

  • JustPlainLucas

    Posted Oct 22, 2009 10:23 am GMT

    @Orihime89 People like you are why Nintendo thinks they get away with building a graphically inferior system. Thank you for not wanting more.

  • JustPlainLucas

    Posted Oct 22, 2009 10:16 am GMT

    I don't want the console to be smaller. I don't want the console to mess with the motion controls. I just want the next console to look as good as the 360 or PS3. Give me that, and I'll bite. Hell... what am I talking about? I'll bite just because it's Nintendo....

  • voidheart777

    Posted Oct 22, 2009 8:58 am GMT

    more compact wii... are you serious... it's compact as it is... release a good game or 2...

  • gdude5678

    Posted Oct 22, 2009 8:55 am GMT

    I just got an N64 recently and I realized how much better and more challenging Nintendo games were back then...

  • migeru1305

    Posted Oct 22, 2009 8:53 am GMT

    @angelGP32

    Yeah, that's what I feel right now... Nintendo doesn't care, they don't give a sh_eet with the consumers and their loyal gamers...

  • angelGP32

    Posted Oct 22, 2009 8:49 am GMT

    @Orihime89: are you kidding me? Maybe first party titles when they are not mini games. But I'm willing to bet that both the PS3 and 360 have a more diverse library of games with better and more original story lines than the Wii does where the bulk of the library is mini games, Barbie games, Sims games, wii-makes, etc. etc. If you can prove to me that there are Wii games with a more immersible storyline than say that of Mass Effect, or Fallout, or Bioshock, Uncharted, Prototype, etc. etc. maybe, just maybe, I'll consider buying a Wii..again

  • joshphillips

    Posted Oct 22, 2009 8:47 am GMT

    Nintendo doesn't care about core gamers anymore. One decent game a year and remaking old games with new Wii motion controls is a test to that. If the new console doesn't have HD graphics then my love for them will end and even the likes of Mario, LInk and Samus can't revive it.

  • angelGP32

    Posted Oct 22, 2009 8:45 am GMT

    @I_Mikeh: this is all old news, and the seat thing was for the horse back riding add on, talk about desperate??? Also the 360 has not had a cosmetic change, unless you count colors, and neither has the Wii only the PS3, the 360 and PS3 have both had "upgrades" with different types of the same system being released, the Wii as far as I'm aware has had none. Instead of planning for the future, why doesn't Nintendo listen to the people that matter, the consumer, for f**ks sake, people have been screaming for better memory options, anything, and as far as I am aware, have been ignored. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

  • Orihime89

    Posted Oct 22, 2009 8:40 am GMT

    Nintendo it's all about story lines and gameplay. not graphics not looking forward to an HD system

  • I_Mikeh

    Posted Oct 22, 2009 8:28 am GMT

    I wouldn't worry about Nintendo focusing their time on a new slim line console, I should imagine they have loads of admin guys, who will still be focusing on games. If you guys keep up to date with your up and coming games and sink yourself into a few different genres of games you will see that they are a few good more grown up games. To name a few the new Metriod Prime game with team Ninja on board. Red Steel 2. No More Heros 2 and the new on the rails Resident evil and Dead Space shooter

    Plus if you read Games TM there's a article in the section in the front called Discuss, which has a picture of a new sort of seat that Nintendo have just applied for the patent for. So keep your eyes pealed their not just making their console smaller. PLUS Sony are doing it as well and X-Box 360 their all guilty of releasing new consoles it's gotta be part of the production plans these days. They cant release a console without having to make a mini me version.

  • migeru1305

    Posted Oct 22, 2009 7:46 am GMT

    @ GNWPCD

    I agree with you man. Maybe it's time to save some money for the PS3. I admit, Sony is leading again!

  • bowlingotter

    Posted Oct 22, 2009 7:41 am GMT

    Well, so much for the whole preemptive "Wii won the console war" conclusion. Nintendo is the only company that feels the need to come out with a new console in the next 2 years. That means that the Wii isn't able to keep up, and Nintendo knows it. We may be able to officially say that they've underestimated the need for high-end hardware.

  • GNWPCD

    Posted Oct 22, 2009 5:57 am GMT

    This is really not right. As a Wii owner, which I am.. I really don't understand why Nintendo is busy focusing on what is coming down the line when we have a system here that had a great start sales wise and has many loyal fans wanting some games to enjoy and play on it. But they are busy talking about all the great stuff the next system being worked on will do.

    Well that's nice and all but before I buy your next latest and greatest, how about giving us something to enjoy and get use out of on the system we all got right now? Nintendo is going to ride that wireless remote gravy train until the train runs out of gas and explodes I can see. Wii Fit Plus, Sports Resort and a remake of a Mario DS on the Wii. This is what we get? And they are talking about their next system and all it can do?

    Sorry Nintendo. Makes me glad I got that PS3 now as well. I still enjoy the Wii for the 7 games I have on it but I won't be getting your second offering if this is how you deal with your loyal customers. It's all about the games, not the system. Always remember that Nintendo when you are wondering why you are in 3rd when the next generation of systems hits the market in a few years down the line.

  • migeru1305

    Posted Oct 22, 2009 5:23 am GMT

    I'm kinda pissed with this news you know.... Nintendo should be concentrating on more games and support to the Wii. We need new games for the Wii, not RERELEASE games. Yeah, their are a ton of games but mostly non violent games and kiddie games... I don't doubt Shigeru Miyamoto for his work but at least Nintendo should put more support on its existing console. . .

  • angelGP32

    Posted Oct 22, 2009 5:21 am GMT

    as I said before, I think Nintendo needs to really take a long hard look at where they are before the release anything. You have 2 types of people. You have people, in increasing numbers, being put off by Nintendo, fed up, and overall extremely frustrated with the current system, we'll add the "hardcore" gamers also into this group. Then you have the Casual gamers. Grandma and grandpa, and others, who are totally satisfied with their current Wii that they see no reason to upgrade, or the casual gamer that has 3 games and doesn't want more. There's not a lot of middle ground there. So you have 2 large groups that Nintendo is REAAAALLY going to have to try to win over in order to make a lot of sales. I'm sorry, but I don't see it happening.

  • gamegod172003

    Posted Oct 22, 2009 4:46 am GMT

    I'm all game for an HD Wii, Think how Zelda would look on a PS3 or even Metroid or Donkey Kong, that would be amazing on an HD Wii. maybe not as powerfull as a PS3 maybe more like a 360. I own PS3 and 360 I traded my Wii in though.

  • svalink

    Posted Oct 22, 2009 4:30 am GMT

    hey Nintendo we don't need new wii in the nearly 5 years.
    we need new Zelda with motion plus support, new F-ZERO, new SAR -FOX. we don't need another ps3 or xbox360 only with motion controls. we need more classic RPG for Wii. we need more unusual projects for Wii. we don't want new Wii hd.

  • left4right

    Posted Oct 22, 2009 2:31 am GMT

    all hail the king

  • Timbydude

    Posted Oct 22, 2009 1:31 am GMT

    Sorry, Nintendo. Make the motion controls actually work, and then I might buy a new Wii.

  • daveg1

    Posted Oct 22, 2009 12:15 am GMT

    doesnt say anything its just a what if storey..even more cost effecting says subpar to me..

  • Willistron

    Posted Oct 22, 2009 12:10 am GMT

    I love Nintendo more than any gaming company in the world and while I like the idea of an affordable console with immersive controls (somewhat) and what not, at the same time it's annihilating just about every A title designed for higher power systems from appearing on it's own system(s). While I respect their vision I honestly think some sacrifices should be made and they should rival other systems in power next generation. though i know they wont...

  • Proman84

    Posted Oct 21, 2009 11:04 pm GMT

    Great, so we are going from GameCube 1.5x to Gamecube 2x .

    Just kidding. Wii HD would be cool though.

  • sgfreak37

    Posted Oct 21, 2009 9:26 pm GMT

    @austinu812 - I understand what you are saying. It is true that a console's life span is usually longer then the generation it was released in. Just look at the NES it lasted even into the SNES days. But no one can tell me that if the PS3 wasn't so expensive and had backwards compatibility(which is good that I hung on to mine), the PS2 would still be selling as well as it is, and Sony wouldn't be backing it as much as they are. I mean Look at the Xbox, the 360 is all people hear about anymore, and allot of people don't even have their original Xboxs anymore. All I am saying is really, is that If Nintendo Planed on making another console by 2011, they would just be following the rest of the generations. But I highly doubt that they are going to make a new console by next year. And I don't mean a Wii HD either, because that would just be a Wii with HD.

  • BigBacon87

    Posted Oct 21, 2009 8:51 pm GMT

    If the first Wii waited a bit, and came out in HD I would have been interested. It did not, and by all means it shouldn't have as it captured the mainstream market. On the flip side, progressive motion controls are coming out for my PS3 in the spring and I don't need extra controllers lying around just so I can play the rare Nintendo release that wow's me(like the new SMB).

  • johnangelo7

    Posted Oct 21, 2009 8:44 pm GMT

    Sadly nintendo has dissapointed me since gamecube.....n64 was the last great hardware theve Made everything just went downhill after that..well glad to see they finally found something thatvworked for them, casual gaming.. Let's all take a moment of silence to remember perfect dark n64, conqueor bad fur day, golden eye, all Zeldas, Mario kart n64, wcw vs nwo, wreatlemania 2000 and the list goes on...

  • KaizerJinn

    Posted Oct 21, 2009 8:25 pm GMT

    Hope things works well for Nintendo...

  • NukedUSN

    Posted Oct 21, 2009 7:18 pm GMT

    It's hard to imagine a Wiimote getting smaller/more streamlined without sacrificing functionality. Too much reliance on motion controls has consistently proven to be a bad thing.

  • SecularSage

    Posted Oct 21, 2009 7:03 pm GMT

    Riiight, because the problem everyone has with the Wii is not its inferior graphics or crummy software library, but its size and price.

    The fad is dying. If Nintendo wants to keep forward momentum, they're going to have to show people what the Wii of the future is going to do, not try to keep squeezing this thing until it's dry. Some really groundbreaking software, like Metroid Prime 3 was a few years back, would be a good start. I really think Nintendo's devs should focus on short, arcade action-style gimmick games and sell them for $20. That would fit the Wii perfectly.

  • iucidium

    Posted Oct 21, 2009 6:21 pm GMT

    They need to stop making shovelware,focus on the brands that have made the money in the past (I'm still waiting for F-Zero!) And make the wii-motion plus an integral part of the wii-mote. And, err give it an ethernet port too!

  • savagetofu

    Posted Oct 21, 2009 6:16 pm GMT

    I think the wii is a great system. I think it is the best system to come out ever. I am not to sure I would go out & buy a new Wii in 2 years. It would depend on how awesome they make the new smash bros.

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